Tom Loewy: Mitchell was voice of Galesburg sports ... and more

Thursday

If you close your eyes and imagine a Friday night under the lights of Van Dyke Field, you will hear the sounds of the crowd, chants of cheerleaders, and the Silver Streaks marching band.

Through it all you will hear Gary Mitchell on the public address system.

That singular voice — which spoke to us during almost every kind of contest played by kids in this town — was stilled Monday. Mitchell died at the age of 79.

He leaves behind Karen, his wife of 60 years, his sons Curtis and Lance, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

His son Jeffrey preceded him in death.

Mitchell leaves behind the community he called home his entire life, a life he dedicated to the children of others.

He handled the announcing duties for football, basketball, baseball and wrestling. He manned the PA for Churchill games and Lombard games and contests played at Carl Sandburg College and Knox College.

Mitchell was much more than the voice that gave us down and distance or wrapped an inning with hits, runs and errors.

He started as JFL coach. He coached Little League. And spent time as an assistant on Coach I’s Galesburg Post 285 American Legion baseball team.

He served as a president of the Little League, JFL and Babe Ruth League.

“The thing was my dad didn’t have any kids on teams,” Lance Mitchell said. “He loved kids. He and my mom just saw all this as a way to do something to help create a wonderful experience for all the kids playing sports.

“My mom worked concessions and my dad did the PA. He loved it. He really did.”

Mitchell had another love — one he cherished but didn’t speak much about.

He was the youngest person in the history of this country’s Freemasons to achieve his 33rd degree.

“He was in his early 30s,” Lance said. “Younger than George Washington, Ben Franklin, younger than anyone.

“When he received the degree Gerald Ford was there. He was really proud of that, but he didn’t talk much about it.”

Mitchell was inducted to the Galesburg High School Athletic Hall of Fame, another accomplishment and honor he didn’t talk about.

When I think of Mitchell, two memories make me smile.

I spent a lot of time in press boxes with Mitchell. He always made it a point to talk to me about my Everyday People columns and anything else I might have written.

Long after I moved away from covering sports, I made it point to duck into the press box and spend a few moments with the public address voice of Galesburg sports.

The other memory, I think, speaks to Mitchell’s total dedication to kids. Mitchell spent Saturday and Sunday afternoons announcing for Galesburg’s fall baseball leagues.

The games didn’t count. They were attended by a smattering of parents. They are played to help kids develop skills.

But before every game Mitchell gathered lineups and he climbed the ladder into the sophomore field’s precarious press box and added his voice to the experience.

Mitchell didn’t have to talk to anyone about his dedication. He saved his words for lineup announcements and inning wraps.

Mitchell reaffirmed our true measure is what we do for others when no else is watching.

Those of us who remember Mitchell and heard his voice are indeed fortunate.

If you want to share your memories of Mitchell, there will be a celebration of his life from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors & Cremation Services, 1070 W. Fremont St.